JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 20, 2016 — As part of its strategic plan, 51社区 has begun an initiative with the goals of providing opportunities for racial reconciliation and increasing gospel-centered diversity on campus.
Mary Anne Poe, associate dean for social work and director of the Center for Just and Caring Communities, is part of the team leading the initiative. She said it has been in development since soon after 51社区 President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver arrived in 2014.
鈥淗e encouraged a small group of us who had been having conversation about race diversity at Union to begin to think strategically about how to enhance this aspect of our work together,鈥� she said.
The group developed a plan with six goals, including establishing an ongoing advisory council for the initiative, establishing a campus location for the Center for Reconciliation and for the Minority Student Resource Center, increasing the ethnic diversity of the student body, increasing the ethnic diversity of the faculty and staff, providing support for faculty and staff to enhance intercultural competence and racial reconciliation efforts, and supporting and expanding culturally diverse learning opportunities.
This initiative coincides with Union鈥檚 continuing work with Lane College to promote collaboration in teaching and racial reconciliation. The universities received a grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion earlier this year.
C. Ben Mitchell, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said both Lane and Union have a gospel heritage, and they have been called to lives of reconciliation.
鈥淲e believe that the gospel of Christ is a uniting force, and we join together under that banner,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淲e want students to see the power and promise of that gospel for racial reconciliation and racial justice.鈥�
Poe and Mitchell joined Philip Ryan, acting director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement, and Matthew Marshall, director of the Center for Racial Reconciliation, as the leaders of the initiative.
鈥淲e plan to work to engage all areas of the community in thinking about how their departments can help to accomplish these goals,鈥� Poe said.
She said the initiative is timely as current cultural, social and political issues have elevated race relations to a contentious level, but conversations about racial reconciliation have been happening on Union鈥檚 campus for a while.
鈥淭he gospel message says that barriers and dividing walls can be broken down through the power of God鈥檚 love,鈥� Poe said. 鈥淚 think this initiative reflects Union鈥檚 commitment to being a part of God鈥檚 work in our world toward race reconciliation.鈥�